Is it Possible to Live a Full Life as a Surgeon‏?

Not too long ago, a fourth-year medical student asked me that question. Here’s what I told him.

I became a surgeon because it appealed to me more than any other specialty. Like most others of my era, I was young and had gone the traditional route—4 years of college followed immediately by med school. I had experienced few adventures [in fact, none] and had not yet met my wife-to-be.

I never even considered what impact my choice would have on my personal life. The subject simply did not come up. I worked hard in medical school but had a great time. I think I had more fun in med school than I did in college.

My residency prepared me well for the rigors of a surgical career. I spent the first 4 years of my training taking call about half every other night and half every third night. As a chief resident, I was in call every night. Somehow I found the time to have a relationship and got married at the end of my third year.

My wife of 40 years is a saint. I have wonderful children and now grandchildren too.

I was fortunate in my career to have had the opportunity to supervise the training of a number of surgeons who are helping people every day.

Although I’ll never climb Everest, go an African safari, ski the Swiss Alps or do many other things that might be important to others, I’ve had an interesting and fulfilling life. Wilderness? Not so much. But love and relationships? I got ’em.

But it is different for the millennial generation. What I considered interesting and fulfilling might not be to you.

Surgery continues to evolve. I think it may be possible in the near future to have a career as a general surgeon and also have a manageable lifestyle. By the time you finish training, everyone will be in group or hospital-based practices. Or you could be an acute care surgeon with fixed hours.

You will have to decide what compromises to make such as deciding if leaving work at 5 pm is more important than staying late to operate on your patient who has a complication you created.

No one talks about this part—you will have to find partners you can trust with the lives of your patients. The roadside is littered with the corpses of group practices that didn’t last because of productivity issues, attitudinal, personality, or philosophical differences among the surgeons.

For many surgeons, fulfillment is measured by the satisfaction of knowing you made a difference in someone’s life.

Can you be a surgeon and have a rich and fulfilling life? You can, but it depends on how you define rich and fulfilling.

Skeptical Scalpel is a retired surgeon and was a surgical department chairman and residency program director for many years. He is board-certified in general surgery and critical care and has re-certified in both several times. He blogs at SkepticalScalpel.blogspot.com and tweets as @SkepticScalpel. His blog averages over 1400 page views per day, and he has over 9500 followers on Twitter.

About The Author

SkepticalScalpel

Skeptical Scalpel

Skeptical Scalpel is a retired surgeon and was a surgical department chairman and residency program director for many years. He is board-certified in general surgery and critical care and has re-certified in both several times. He blogs at SkepticalScalpel.blogspot.com and tweets as @SkepticScalpel. His blog averages over 1400 page views per day, and he has over 9500 followers on Twitter.

73 Comments

Rob on November 18, 2018 at 6:46 pm

Hello! Thank you for your contributions, guidance and pearls of wisdom. I really enjoy your blog. I was wondering. If you had some insight into changing specialties later in one’s career. I am a general practicioner at an academic center and find myself longing for a field with more technical skills and technological advancements. Diagnoses and prescriptions can only go so far with insurance limitations and patient non-adherence. I am considering changing specialties and would like to pursue general surgery as I feel it would be deeply satisfying and much more fulfilling. I am aware of the obstacles. Residency funding issues, age, years out of med school, significant salary reduction etc. I’m in my mid-30s and still plan on practicing for as long as I’m capable (never wanted to do anything outside of medicine). How could I approach this. I would ask surgeons at my hospital but don’t want my department to find out that I’m considering a change (at least for now) which might lead to some backlash. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Reading this makes me want to become a surgeon even more. I really like how you mentioned that it’s the feeling of fulfillment that really keeps people going and knowing you made a difference in their lives. You are also right that it’s filled with compromises that all have their different outcomes.

I think this post is helpful not only to medical students, but to residents in community programs that may not be affiliated with a large academic center. Thank you for such a helpful reference to share with mentees!

Hello, I’m a sophomore in High School, and I have been thinking of becoming a surgeon. Maybe I’m watching too much of Grey’s Anatomy, but I can definitely say that show has inspired me. Freshman, I took Honors Physics in an I-STEM program and I enjoyed it. Math has been one of my favorite subjects ever since I was a little kid. This year, I am taking Honors Chem and I honestly love that class. I understand it, and I usually end up helping other people with their work. I have an overall grade of 89 for a semester and a half. Junior year, I plan to take AP Chem and Honors Bio. The reason I am reaching out, is because I don’t think my parents will take me seriously. If I tell them that I got inspired by a show, they might think it’s just a phase. But I have done my research and looked on several websites about how a surgeon’s life is, and how much school is needed to pursue this career. With my interest in Math and Chem, I think I will end up going into the medical field. So my question is, how do I tell my parents, and how do I make them take me seriously?

I suggest you tell your parents that the science courses you are taking have made you interested in becoming a doctor. I can’t imagine why your parents would not take you seriously. I understand that Grey’s Anatomy is one of the better medical shows, but it is not a true depiction of what it’s like to be a doctor in real life. As I have advised others, you should begin talking to some doctors to get an idea of what they actually do. Study hard and good luck.

I am currently a JR in high school. I have always wanted to have a career in medicine, but the end of last year I realized that I wanted to be a trauma surgeon, simply because I don’t see myself with a career other than a surgeon. I love medicine, I love helping people, and I want to save lives. I’m doing everything I can right now, as I take 4 AP Classes 2 of them being Biology and Chemistry. I volunteer at a hospital, as an EMT, and I attend “Mini Med School” programs. I am also an athlete and do speech and debate. I don’t have a social life. I’m constantly busting my tail and I’m no the smartest, but I am hardworking and persistent. As crazy as this sounds, I’m ready to commit myself to hours on call, no love life, and no kids when I’m older. I only really love medicine.

Hi, I am a freshman in high school and i’ve considered looking into becoming a surgeon and possibly a neurosurgeon for my career. My father is a veterinarian and so since i was a young kid i was interested by surgery. I want to become a surgeon so i can help people. The fact that i could save someone’s life just makes me want to become a surgeon. Although, i have wondered what this would mean for my future family, and private life. It sounds selfish putting my private life up there with saving someone else’s life but this is important to me. I would appreciate your reply on what i should do or what you recommend. Thank you.

Thank you for your comment. ** As I have told others on this post, I can’t tell you what to do. I know there have been a lot of comments on this post, but please take a few minutes to read some of them and my responses. I have no recommendations other than you should speak to a few surgeons and have them discuss with you what their lives are like. You might even try to “shadow” a surgeon or two for a day. This would give you some real-life perspective. ** Good luck.

Hi there! I’ve aimed to become a Neurosurgeon. But I am unsure of choosing my pathway as becoming a Neurosurgeon. Either by completing MBBS in India and continuing further courses in Australia or embark my Neurosurgeon career in Australia itself followed by bachelor and required courses. Help me guide my future in a better way. I do need to know the followed up stairs in each pathways. Thank You!

Im a sophomore in high school and always wanted to work in the medical field. Recently I have been seriously considering become a surgeon ( I otherwise want to definitely be an anesthesiologist/pain management doctor) but I am worried that my public high school education has not been getting me far enough to advance into the world of surgery. If I do become a surgeon I want to be a trauma surgeon, which seems very exciting. I am only worried that sad to say, that I am not brilliant enough to have what it takes to become a surgeon. Does anyone have any advice for me?

You won’t know if you are brilliant enough unless you try. Go to college. Major in something else that interests you, but take some science courses that are required for medical school. If you do well, go for it. If not, you haven’t lost anything. Good luck.

hey man I’m a junior in high school and I’ve been thinking of becoming a surgeon I did a lot of research and you need a 3.5 gpa or higher but yet if you don’t have it you can always retake classes most high schools let you.

Hi! I heard that doctors study their whole lives. Is this true for surgeons as well? In addition, should I have a steady hand in order to be a surgeon? Last but not least, what are some things that I have to consider before choosing to be a surgeon or not? Thanks!

Yes, good doctors study throughout their entire career. It’s true for surgeons too because surgeons are also doctors. Before you decide to become a surgeon, you should consider whether you want to study hard, work hard, make some sacrifices regarding your personal life, help people, and enjoy a rewarding but demanding career. I always tell people who ask me questions like this to speak to some surgeons, both male and female, to get their perspectives on a surgical career. If after talking to a couple of surgeons you still want to find out if it’s for you, I recommend “shadowing” a surgeon for a couple of days to see what he or she actually does.

Just wanted to say thank you for your posts and after reading through the comments, thank you for the time you take to wholeheartedly answer the questions. Regardless of how often you get the thank you, I thought it be needed. I’m in the same situation as many of these readers having finished a BS in biochemistry and have been on the rocker about whether or not to continue my studies towards surgery or to take an alternate route into Nursing in order to balance the idea that I could juggle two professions (I’m very into art and fashion and am in the works of trying to create my own brand). My struggle is wanting to balance two professions and being afraid that time won’t allow me to do so as a surgeon. Although I’ve always had a pull towards surgery, my mental conflict is coming to terms with the idea of it really being something I want to pursue for me, or it being that me, as a (competitive) black female, want to increase the representation of women and women of color in the field. Morally I feel like, even if not excel, I’ve been given a gift of placement and the ability to understand science based criteria that I would be doing an injustice to not pursue that career based on the opportunities that have been given to me that may not have been given had I been born a different time. I’d appreciate any sort of response on that if you’ve got it. Thanks again!

I receive many comments and emails from men and women who aren’t sure that they want to go through the rigors of medical school and residency. It’s amazing how often I can tell from the the way they describe themselves that they don’t seem committed. Many times I say, “Read what you wrote to yourself again or read it to someone you trust, and see what they think about your desire to be a doctor.” Or sometimes they ask about how much vacation time there is or how much money they can make. *** I like the way you stated your intentions. I think you get it. There are many ways to accomplish what you want to do. I suggest you speak to some women surgeons and find out what they think about your plans. The Association of Women Surgeons has a website [https://www.womensurgeons.org/] that might help you find people to talk to. Best wishes and good luck.

Hi, Im a junior in high school, taking part in a special design and art program. I having a similar dilemma or problem; I love science and knowing how things function and why, but I’m also very design and art oriented. If I were to pursue medicine, I would want to be a surgeon. Im afraid, this being such a demanding career I won’t have enough time to do other things that interest me like art/design. Traveling for one is very important to me and I would hate to have to give it up. The another thing I’m worried about is being able to raise children and have a family. If you have any advice or anything you would have like to have known at my age I would really appreciate it, thank you.

Thanks for your comment and question. Here’s a post from 2014 that covers a lot of your concerns [https://www.physiciansweekly.com/possible-live-full-life-surgeon%e2%80%8f/]. I caution you that most of the time, caring for patients has to be one of the most important things in your life next to family. If travel is more important, do something else. I suggest you talk to some women surgeons to gain some insight about how they manage family life. Good luck.

Ive just completed reading this article and a lot of the comments. Im 21 yrs old with a license in neuromuscular massage therapy. Ive always been interested in the medical field, and Ive recently been thinking about my next step in life. Im curious to what type of personalities do well in a career like yours? The massage therapy business is a bit more laid back, which is enjoyable, but I love being a student and I feel like massage isnt fufilling enough for a long term gig. Have you ever seen someone flourish as a surgeon even if other people thought they werent mentally cut out for it?

Thats great to hear.. Thank you! Do you have any tips for me as I start researching more about becoming one? I read some of your comments talling those to find someone to shadow for a day and I think im going to do that as soon as I can.

I want to become a Cardio Vascular surgeon, I have always wanted to be. As a freshman in High School, I was taking college biochem and it was amazing. My only delay now is how the life of a surgeon actually is. Do you work 3 days and get 4 off? How many weeks off do you get? Do you get paid By a Normal hour and Surgical hour? And most importantly considering Greys Anatomy messed me up, how is residency? When do you perform your first surgery etc?

Matthew, thank you for commenting and your questions. I don’t know any cardiovascular surgeons who work three days and get four days off. How many weeks off you get depends on whether you are in private practice, which by the time you get out of your training will probably not exist, or work for a hospital and get a salary. Usually, employed physicians get anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks off per year. Employed surgeons are not paid by the hour. They receive a yearly salary. Some employed physicians receive productivity bonuses which may or may not exist in the future. To become a cardiovascular surgeon, he would need to do four years of medical school and a minimum of six years of residency during which time your salary would be about $60,000 per year. Residency is long and hard. Most residents begin to do surgery in their first year of training. **** I suggest you see if you can talk to a surgeon where you live and possibly follow her around for a day to see what she does. I hope you don’t mind the following advice. When you are considering a career as a surgeon, your first few questions should not be how many days do I work and how many vacation days will I have. Like most careers, if you don’t love the work, you will be miserable.

I am interested in becoming a neurosurgeon but I hear that it consumes your life and divorce is dominant when taking a job like this. I was wondering if this is true and if you can pick your hours as a surgeon?

Neurosurgery is quite time consuming. Most neurosurgery residency training programs last 7 years after med school graduation. Many areas do not have enough neurosurgeons so the ones who are there have long hours and many nights and weekends on call. It’s probably not the specialty you are looking for if you want to “pick your hours.”

Now i am in 12th standard and i want a degree of doctor with my name. But people suggests me that, don’t take admission in mbbs it’s too hard n i should have to struggle alot for being a mbbs is it true?

Doctors can travel a lot also. Some kinder docters even travel to third-world countries for free to treat the people who can’t pay for it themselves. It’s a kind task. Hehe I wanted to be a doctor but I fell into my art habits.

Hey there, I’m 23 years old with only one year of community college completed. Finally I feel like there is something that interests me enough to go BACK to school but is it too late me for to become a surgeon? What should my first steps be towards achieving my goals be? Any information you can give me would be awesome!

Hello, Thank you for your article and advice. I am 31 and I am a career change student. In my twenties, I travelled and lived life well, but was always unfulfilled. I started to go back to school for PA school. It turned out my under grad was useless since it was a for-profit college. So I started from scratch. I’m a year and half into it and have a PA school willing to interview me, but after all my shaowding I found my love of surgery and women’s health. The female MD I shadowed the most inspiring but encouraged me to go to PA school due to the time medical school cost her. I fear going to medical school because of time. I would have to complete a undergrad at a California state school to save money and then apply for medical school, (if I can get in) it could be as much as ten years from now and I would not be practicing until I was 42. I am struggling with this decision. Do you have any advice?

I apologize for the delay in posting and responding to your comment. It is difficult for me to tell you what to do. I have heard from several non-traditional medical students and residents who were aware of the difficulty of completing premed requirements and medical school at an advanced age. But they did it anyway. *** A close friend of mine has done just that, and he could not be happier. Granted, not practicing until you are 42 sounds daunting, and it’s not for everyone. Here’s a link to a post I wrote in 2015 [http://askskepticalscalpel.blogspot.com/2015/01/going-to-med-school-and-becoming.html]. *** I recommend you read it including the comments. It may help you sort things out. I know that the female physician you shadowed recommended you stick with PA school. However, the problem with that advice is, it’s what she would have done in your place not what you want to do. *** If you are really committed and willing to pay the price in both money and time, then go for it. But be aware that there are many other hurdles including undergraduate grades and the MCAT in order to get into medical school, the USMLE exams and grades in medical school, and the type of medical school you attend. I caution you to think twice about going to a medical school outside of the US. It is going to be harder and harder for graduates of those schools to find residency positions. Go to my personal blog skepticalscalpel.blogspot.com and enter the word ‘Caribbean’ in the search field for more information about offshore schools. *** I’m sorry if is is not as helpful as you were hoping. Good luck

Good am/pm sir, I’m still a high school student probably, soon to be a grade 11 student in Philippines. I chose stem as my track, and i’ve already taken an entrance exam in a medical school and passed.

I dont have any connections in my family even so, i really wanted to become a doctor. I have decided to have med tech as my pre-med (bcoz most of my teachers preferred it).

Being a general surgeon also inspires me a lot but at the same time, the thoughts of not going to make it or “impossible” always hits me, i also considered our country not that productive, especially to our city because of the lack of med school ( there is only one medical school that has “medicine” (dunno about the term yet)) even though it is like that, i just wanted to ask if being a general surgeon is hard, or does it require a student who is likely intelligent(lol i know this question is stupid), how many years or estimated years to study to become a general surgeon, what do you do after graduating as a general surgeon? Did you get a job directly? Or did you still have a following training? How many years did you finish training? While in training, do you have somewhat an income? After training what do you do? What are your advice?

*ps, i know some of my questions are really stupid and i apologize for that. *if you ask why should not i talk to a general surgeon in our country, it’s because i don’t have any connections, not just in my family/ etc. Lol. Even though i’ll go out, and go to an hospital, it’s really hard.

Yes, being a general surgeon is hard, and you have to be intelligent in order to make it through medical school and residency training. In the US, most surgeons spent four years in college, four years in medical school, and a minimum of five years in general surgery residency training. These days, most graduates of general surgery training take at least one year of fellowship in a subspecialty of general surgery. However, this is not mandatory, and many begin to practice and do well directly after residency training. Yes, there is “somewhat of an income” during residency training. I’m not sure what advice you are looking for. It might be difficult for you as a citizen of the Philippines to go to medical school in the US and/or obtain a residency in surgery here. Since it is a long way off for you, things may change. Good luck.

I’m looking to pursue a career in medicine. Eventually, I hope to join Doctors Without Borders or a similar organization. Any advice you have in regards to my college choice, what I major/minor in, and what sort of internships and/or study abroad programs I participate it before med school? Additionally, I’m wondering if I’ll be able to pursue other interests along with a medical degree? Since I was little, I’ve always been interested in acting or music or photography… but clearly these don’t align well with the training that goes towards being a doctor. Will I have time to partake in other interests? Thanks!

This is just my opinion, but I think many people believe what I’m about to say. Regarding a college choice, you should attend a college with a name that someone more than 50 miles away from it would recognize. You can major in anything you want as long as you take the required science courses. Medical schools today are looking for well-rounded individuals who are not science nerds. Studying abroad is not necessary, but you need to demonstrate an interest in medicine by doing some community service or working in some medical capacity as a college student. Doing some research is also recommended. *** Busy people can always make time for other interests. Music, acting, or photography would be good choices. Your goal is a noble one. I hope you achieve it. Good luck.

I’m not a neurosurgeon. The answer to your question depends on whether you want to make a ton of money or not. If the answer is yes, choose private practice. If you would prefer a less hectic lifestyle and don’t mind less money, choose a salaried position. I am not sure how many of the latter positions there are. I know that some hospitals are so desperate for neurosurgeons that they offer a guaranteed income up front. That’s sort of a combination of private practice and salary. PS: Neurosurgery residencies are very competitive and very long. You need to do exceptionally well in school. Good luck.

Hi im a 3rd year medical student and i never rlly wanted to be a surgreon until i saw greys anatomy for 2 years now all i want to be is a surgeon and i dont care about the drama on the show the medical stuff is what intrests me, im just wondering how hard is it to be a surgeon? I’ve always been the top of my class in medical school im doing well and working hard and having a super busy schedule doesnt scare me but im wondering is it possible for me to have a normal life? Have time for my husbund kids excersice friends? And still be a great surgeon

Sorry for the delay in responding. Yes, it is possible for you to have a normal life. I have two suggestions for you. One, have a long conversation with a female surgeon at your medical school and find out how she did it. Two, read some of my other posts on the subject of becoming a surgeon. Nine of them can be found at this link: http://skepticalscalpel.blogspot.com/2016/01/should-i-become-general-surgeon.html *** Good luck.

I’m going to need a little more info. How not so great are your grades? Have you taken any science courses and how did you do? Are you attending a school that anyone may have heard of? Do you already have significant tuition debt? *** You can email me if you would rather. SkepticalScalpel@hotmail.com

I’ve looked Into becoming a surgeon for four years now, but all I have seen is negative commentary. I’m well aware that being a surgeon requires a lot of dedication but is it really that bad? I plan to study nursing but yet I know I will regret never taking the chance to become a surgeon like I’ve been wanting too. I guess the only thing that I fear is not spending time with my family. On top of that, I come from a low income family so how will I end paying my debt?

It’s not nearly as bad as some people say. And don’t forget that people who complain are much more likely to speak up than those who are satisfied. Regarding the debt, I can’t help much. Go to state schools. Live modestly and save money to pay off your loans after you finish training.

When you say, “Although I’ll never climb Everest, go an African safari, ski the Swiss Alps or do many other things that might be important to others, I’ve had an interesting and fulfilling life. Wilderness? Not so much. But love and relationships? I got ’em.” Does this mean general surgeons rarely, if not ever, find the time to travel or enjoy some personal time off every now and then?

I’m glad to hear that love and relationships are possible to have even within a demanding profession. Any insight you can provide on how much time is possible to have with loved ones during med school, residency, and beyond? (Little to none/fair amount/more than enough?) Although I’m sure it helps if loved ones are very understanding and supportive when personal time may not always be available.

Also, I am a non-traditional student, just about to start my undergraduate studies. Any advice to those who feel it may be too late to pursue a career as a general surgeon?

I’ve traveled a lot, even when I was a chief of surgery and in practice. We even took our 6 kids to Europe twice. I found more than adequate time for family. It helps to have an understanding and self-sufficient spouse. *** I’ve complied a list of several posts I wrote about becoming a surgeon on my personal blog. Here’s the link: http://skepticalscalpel.blogspot.com/2016/01/should-i-become-general-surgeon.html

Hi… Im a 1st yr surgery resident who happens to b d only female n d 1st ever female in d dpt since d college started other dan d interns who come n go…. I took up surgery cause i never felt d kind of lov n passion to any other branch like i do for surgery… But some how now a days i feel its a mistake…every day i get tormented by my seniors just cause im a woman n i even get comments like its still not late to change streams… N my family also keeps tellin me its a bad choice..Do u really think its true… I mean i lov surgery n one day i wana even take up plastics… Its just dat sometimes i feel may b dey all r rite… What do u think? Can women not b gud surgeons?

Women can be good surgeons or even great surgeons. You need to join Twitter and follow some of the many women surgeons who are very happy and successful. You can start by following the Association of Women Surgeons (@WomenSurgeons). There are blogs to read and you can see who the association is following and follow some of those women. *** Good luck.

Good question. I never thought of it until late in high school when I decided I wanted to become a doctor. At first I thought I would be a psychiatrist. That notion disappeared when I did my first anatomy lab in med school.

Right now, I am retired. I assume your question is about what I did hour by hour as a surgeon. That is a difficult question to answer simply, because every day was different for me.

Because I was a surgical chairman and residency program director for most of my career, my days were not typical for a surgeon. The average surgeon sees patients in an office or clinic setting on some days and operates on other days. If there are patients in the hospital, most surgeons will see those patients every day and write progress notes. There are also emergency consultations and operations to be dealt with. Most surgeons take night call once or possibly twice a week. It is different for surgeons in teaching hospitals with residents versus those in nonteaching hospitals who may be working only with physician assistants or nurse practitioners.

If you want to know more about what a surgeon does on a daily basis, you might consider “shadowing” a surgeon for a couple of days.